Ginuwine | Elgin
By Susan Mutharia
In the music industry we have had timeless classics and one hit wonders, legendary artists and the unremarkable, trendsetters and followers. Every decade has ushered innovative fashion statements, challenging dance moves and even a new meaning to certain words. 1996 was no different. It was in that year that Ginuwine unleashed the track Pony.
Gretchen Parlato | The Lost And Found
by Brent Faulkner
Gretchen Parlato is an exceptional young jazz vocal talent. On her third effort, The Lost And Found, the theme of the album is experimentation. Throughout the cerebral, enjoyable effort Parlato uses her voice in a number of capacities, making The Lost and Found one of the more innovative vocal jazz efforts in sometime. Parlato not only serves as the album’s muse, but also composes a number of the tracks.
Ambrose Akinmusire | When The Heart Emerges Glistening
by Brent Faulkner
Free-jazz’s appearance in the 1960s went right alongside the ‘sentiment’ of the times historically; – the idea of liberation from conformity and the conservative tides of the 1950s was ‘what was in.’ Free-jazz never faded away dramatically like some earlier jazz styles (namely dixieland, swing, etc.), but it’s popularity certainly peaked in the 1960s.
Colie Williams – Light Up the Darkness
By Peggy Oliver
Neo-soul is one of those categories that sometimes is hard to figure out or dissect. But it is encouraging knowing there are many urban vocalists today who are embracing the past without sounding too outdated. From the veterans Jill Scott to the recent voices Colie Williams, old-fashioned smooth soul with a fierce attitude is more alive and well than ever.
DJIB Stanford | Life and Music
By Susan Mutharia
If I could sum it up, Life and Music by Djib Stanford is about the roller coaster of life. There are several emotions when traveling through the tracks: ambition and determination while rising to the top, the struggle to forgive that’s a plunge to the spirit and sweet serenity while on treading on stable ground. The 14-track album is a fusion of hip-hop, soul, jazz and electronic music.
Album Review: Larry Carlton
Plays the Sounds of Philadelphia: A Tribute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
By Brian Soergel
Legendary guitarist Larry Carlton can play whatever he wants now, and boy is he taking advantage of it. Since breaking free of record labels and creating his own, Carlton has released one CD that was a reworking of the best of his solo work. It was modern and fresh. He also offered a CD with Japanese guitarist Tak Matsumoto, which was good enough to win a Grammy recently. To continue, please click “MORE”!
The Yellowjackets | Timeline
by Brent Faulkner
Veteran fusion jazz group Yellowjackets return with their newest effort, Timeline. On Timeline, Yellowjackets sound as if they have not missed a beat, adding yet another gem to their discography. A set of eleven cuts, there are no misses to mention, with each of the tracks exhibiting some special ‘magic.’ While Timeline may not be coined as being the group’s best effort – that would be their breakthrough and classic recordings – it certainly shows ‘the old guys’ still have their ‘mojo.’
Jazz enthusiasts shan’t be disappointed in the least by this effort.
Etana| Free Expressions
By Peggy Oliver
Her name is The Strong One in Swahili and she clearly lives up to her name. Etana shares all her thoughts in an old-school reggae style tossed with old-fashioned, unabashed soul that the urban music audience is dreadfully missing in the millennium. Though the artist whose birth name is Shauna McKenzie is receiving more press in the past few years, the road to fame was paved with many lessons learned personally and professionally.
DW3 | On The Floor
by Brent Faulkner
DW3’s On the Floor represents a ‘rarity’ in the R&B world – a ‘soulful’ album as opposed to an effort filled with electronic gimmicks and a lack of substance. On this effort, the clear goal of the group is to celebrate and keep alive a tradition of R&B that is respectable and noteworthy.
Disney Jazz, Vol. 1 | Everybody Wants To Be A Cat
by Brent Faulkner
Disney Jazz, Vol. 1-Everybody Wants To Be a Cat is exactly how the first
portion of the title reads – jazz interpretations of some timeless
Disney gems. Compilation efforts with various artists often suffer from
not being cohesively strong, however this exceptionally strong and
creative venture easily ‘bucks’ any low expectations for the compilation
album. With no outright misses to speak of, Disney Jazz, Vol. 1 proves
to be a star-studded and splendid listen. To continue, please click “MORE”!